Busia County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture George Mukok has urged the local residents to diversify farming with a view to cope with climate change.
Speaking during a farmer’s Field Day at Busia Agricultural Training Centre on Thursday, Mukok said that climate change was real.
“Let us grow crops that are drought tolerant and disease resistant,” he said adding that there was a need to go back to the traditional food crops that were disease resistant.
Mukok further advised locals to plant the new cassava variety which is also drought tolerant.
He at the same time urged the County Assembly Agriculture Committee to allocate more funds for the Agriculture Sector.
The CECM said that farmers will be able to get advice through text messages on good agricultural practices due to the shortage of Agricultural extension officers.
‘Our agenda is to move away from the old generation to the youthful farmer, the youthful famer has the gadget,” he said, adding that in future youth can practice farming through technology.
Busia County Assembly Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee, Beatrice Kanoti urged farmers to form cooperatives and embrace modern farming technology with a view to achieve more food production.
Kanoti urged farmers to plant cotton, simsim, sunflower and groundnuts to support the Industrial Parks that will soon be established.
She at the same time said that the County is looking for ways of supporting farmers through subsidised farm inputs in order to boost food security.
By Victoria Magar
